1980 Computer Chess Tournament

If this is the first time you have read one of my posts about old computer chess tournaments I recommend that you read 1979 Computer Chess Tournament to find out more if what I am doing. So here is the 1980 Computer Chess Tournament. I have changed somethings on how I doing the tournament. For example, this tournament is no longer a double round robin event. For this tournament I have decided to use the swiss Dubov, and I gave all the opponents a rating, which will be used for the pairing. This will also be used to rate the players to enter the next tournament. If a players rating is above average, they will be entered in the next tournament. That being said I also brought in some players from the 1979 tournament. So with that lets meet the players.

Meet the Players

Apple 2+ – Microchess 2

The Apple ][+ was an 8Bit computer that was released in 1979 and features the following. CPU: MOS 6502 1MHz | Memory: RAM 48kB, 12kB ROM improved from 4kB expandable to 48kB, 12kB ROM in the Apple 2 | Screen: 8 colors at 280 x 192, 4-bit color at 40 x 48 improved from 6 colors at 280×192, 4-bit color at 40×48 in the Apple 2 | Data path: 8-bit | I/O Ports: Composite monitor, Internal Slots (8), Tape recorder In/Out jacks | Keyboard: Full-stroke keyboard | Built In Media: None | OS: DOS 3.2.1 and DOS 3.3 | Built In Language: AppleSoft Basic (Microsoft F.P. version). Microchess was developed by Peter R. Jennings originally for the MOS KIM-1. It was the first software package that sold 50,000 copies. Microchess later went on to the TRS-80. Apple ][, Commodore PET, and the Atari 400/800.

Apple 2+ – Sargon

Sargon was introduced at the 1978 West Coast Computer faire, and written by Dan and Kathleen Spracklen, where it won the first computer chess tournament held strictly for microcomputers. It returns to this tournament after placing 4th out 5 in the 1979 Computer Chess Tournament.

Apple 2+ – Sargon 2

Sargon 2 was created later that year with great improvements, its claim to fame was when it beat Awit, a chess program running on a $6,000,000 Amdahl Computer. It returns to this tournament after coming in 2nd in the 1979 Computer Chess Tournament.

Commodore PET – Microchess 2

The Commodore PET is a 8Bit computer that was released in 1977. The emulator that I use is based on the 4000 series. The PET 4000 series is equipped with the MOS 6502 running at 1 MHz and had 8, 16 or 32kb of RAM and 20kb ROM. Video was the MOS 6545 12″ monochrome monitor, with 40X80 or 80X25 character display.

TI99/4 – Video Chess

The Texas Instruments TI-99/4 was released in 1979. This computer was equipt with a TI MS9900 running at 3 MHz, with 256bytes “scratchpad” RAM, and 16kb VDP (graphics RAM). Video Chess was written by David Levy.